Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

The point most are missing is that there are three elements comprising the triad: Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the
New England Patriots.
They play in the National Football League of today - not 1999, not 1989, and certainly not decades and decades ago.
The machine that is the Patriots compared to the rest of the league is like comparing a Mercedes and a Yugo.
They are style and elegance - not utility; they are artists and craftsmen - not trailer trash; they win - and win often;
and, when they lose, they lose with professionalism and dignity and grace. They don't whine; they don't complain; and,
they don't hate. They just beat you next time.

The constant barrage of "if's" is ridiculous - if this, if that, if I were a rich man.
Surely the footlockers with the treasure troves of facts have that famous piece about if's and but's. If not, ask a member here.
They are usually quite helpful - or they were in the days when Bob Carroll ran the show. (May he rest in peace!)

You might say the Walsh-Montana/Young-SFO offense was the class of the league - THEN.
Or, that the Brown-Graham/Brown-Browns group held that spot before them.
However, you cannot randomly interchange coaches and players and eras to suit your argument.
I drive across the border and I'm still in Kansas City but I can't tell a Kansas trooper that I live in Missouri so I'm not responsible for the change in the speed limit. So much for the difference in rules ...

Coaches coach, players play, and teams compete and competed in their own era.
There is no formula for adjustment that can justify changing what has happened.
There is, perhaps, a method of preparation that will help all surpass those of today - but for today and for the now it is Belichick, Brady, and the Patriots.
It doesn't matter if you pick your toes in Potsdam, water your lawn at the convergence, or breathe alien-infected air -
it's just the way it is.

And, there is no fan of the Patriots in this house just as there was no fan of IBM in the past but the boys at the original
"Big Blue" might have used Belichick as a model for their "Watson." Good choice that!

“The logic of words should yield to the logic of realities.”
~ Justice Louis Dembitz Brandeis (1856-1941)

conace21 wrote:One of the things I've read about Johnny U is how he could manage the game. If the Colts had to come back, he would call the next two plays in the huddle. If they had a lead, he would milk the clock. Why does it seem like Brady and Belichick are the only ones who can do these things?

Aaron Rodgers I think is on the same level as far as mental preparedness and game savvy. The Packers have been in the playoffs 8 years in a row too. Not quite at the same level, but still an impressive run.

Jay Z wrote:

conace21 wrote:One of the things I've read about Johnny U is how he could manage the game. If the Colts had to come back, he would call the next two plays in the huddle. If they had a lead, he would milk the clock. Why does it seem like Brady and Belichick are the only ones who can do these things?

Aaron Rodgers I think is on the same level as far as mental preparedness and game savvy. The Packers have been in the playoffs 8 years in a row too. Not quite at the same level, but still an impressive run.

It is telling that Brady mentioned Rodgers is the one guy he always makes sure to watch when he has the chance.

Rodgers is probably just as good, he just doesn't have the infrastructure around him that Brady does. But sub Rodgers in for Brady and I don't think the Patriots results are any different.

jeckle_and_heckle wrote:

Bob Gill wrote:Of course, as Matt pointed out elsewhere, they also have an advantage in that they've almost never faced any kind of challenge to keep them from winning their own shrunken division and sailing into the playoffs

Despite that, they went almost ten years without winning a Super Bowl after having won three Super Bowls in four years.

The biggest thing folks overlook about the two Giants titles is that Coughlin was on the same coaching staff with Belichick under Parcells. No fear, mystery, or intimidation on the part of him and his teams when facing Belichick. Most teams/coaches are beat by New England before the opening kickoff.

Too many people assign luck to the 2 Giant SB wins over NE. Well you can make a case regarding the Tyree catch but the Giants were with the Patriots that entire game. Luck had nothing to do with 2012. In fact NE was probably lucky to be there themselves got very lucky Lee Evans droppes that pass in the endzone and then Baltimore shanked a chip shot to send it to OT.

The Patriots are a great football franchise but without luck and some unprecedented bonehead decisions, they could have 2 Super Bowls now insteas of 5. If they go through another down stretch then their fans probably should be hit with a 20 year "Not allowed to complain" rule